The Nova Scotia Weekend Road Trip Travel Guide

Despite being our immediate neighbor to the North, and both of us having a minor obsessed with Canada, Brandon nor I had never properly visited the country before. I once had a long layover in Toronto on the way to Cuba and went out to brunch, and Brandon crossed the boarder at Niagara Falls as a kid, neither of which really gave us much of an idea of the country. When Explore Canada reached out to us about exploring Nova Scotia, we jumped at the chance. Here is our curated 4-day itinerary: great for a long weekend and a great mix of so many elements - some nature, some culture, some great wine and food, and some of the most amazing geological sites in the world!

Day 1: Halifax

As Halifax is the Capital city of Nova Scotia, and the location of the airport, this is a great way to start. We rented a car at the airport with Hertz and drove into the city (about 30-40 minutes) from there! Before you go, know that the farther away from Halifax you get, the less likely roads are to be paved. We rented a 4-wheel drive SUV and ended up being EXTREMELY glad we did!

WHERE TO STAY:

The Waverly Inn - On our trip through Canada, we took the opportunity to fully embrace the small-town charms and travel in an old-world way - by staying strictly in local BnBs, which enhanced our experience so much. This is where we stayed in Halifax, and every inch of the property was adorable - wish easy parking and easy walking distance to downtown.

THE BEST SITES:

Halifax Public Gardens - An absolutely stunning park - these Victorian Gardens have been on this spot and open to the public since the 1800s, and are still meticulously maintained. Stop into Uncommon Grounds for a coffee to sip while you walk.

Halifax Citadel National Historic Site - A hill-top military fort dating back to 1750 - there are live re-enactments and historically dressed characters roaming the grounds, running drills, and marching in formation all day long.

Peggy's Cove - About a 45 minute drive out of the city, this is probably the best known site in Halifax, with an iconic lighthouse perched atop a stone coastline.

Halifax Distilling Co - A downtown liquor distillery led by a 5th generation female distiller! They offer tours and tastings, to add a little education to your drinking.

Day 2: Wolfville

Halifax -> Wolfville Drive Time: 1 Hour

Wolfville is an adorable small town - home to a University, wine vineyards, and the historic Grand Pré.

WHERE TO STAY:

CAN'T MISS EATS:

More than it's food, Wolfville is known for it's WINE! Home to over a dozen vineyards, we were shocked that so much wine is grown up here and how delicious it was! We spent the afternoon stopping by a few wineries, and these are our top favorites.

Luckett Vineyards - Founded by British Ex-pats, this winery has a gorgeous tasting room, and an outdoor restaurant overlooking the vineyards - plus a London phonebooth in the middle of the vines. We had lunch here and the food was excellent.

THE BEST SITES:

The Historic Grand Pré- The site of the first settlers in Nova Scotia from France, the original Acadians. Dating back to the 1600's.

The Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens - Part of Acadia University, there is a lot of North East Collegiate appeal here - and in July when we were here, there were wild blueberries growing everywhere!

Day 3: Tatamagouche

Wolfville -> Tatamagouche Drive Time: 2 Hours, 15 Minutes

The drive to Tatamagouche is a stunner - full of woods and more greenery than you can see just about anywhere, and the tiny little town here is Road Trip Gold

Our room at the Train Station Inn

The interior restaurant at Train Station Inn

WHERE TO STAY:

The Train Station Inn - This is the best, and practically the only place to stay here - an Inn built in an 1800's train station, and with rooms made from repurposed decommissioned train cars. This was one of our favorite places we've ever stayed. Brandon LOVES trains, and we had so much exploring and taking photos here.

CAN'T MISS EATS:

The Railway Dining Car- Yes, this is also at the Train Station Inn, and yes this is fine dining in an actual dining car. If you're coming for dinner, make a reservation, this place is popular!

The Caper Cafe - About the cutest little breakfast place that ever existed, and is only one step away from eating on your Grandma's porch.

THE BEST THINGS TO DO:

Remember Adventures - A spot where you can rent 4-seater peddle bikes to scoot your way all over town.

The Sites and attractions in Tatamagouche and tourist attractions range from the Anna Swan Musuem ( a woman famous for being 7 feet tall in the late 1800's) to an Ice Creamery to the Steam Mill Museum (seriously!) to the Lounge Car at the Train Station Inn. This town is tiny, funky, adorable, and pure road-side-attraction, road trip gold.

Day 4: Bay of Fundy

Tatamagouche -> Parrsboro Drive Time: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

The Bay of Fundy is known for cliffs full of dinosaur fossils, and for having the highest tides anywhere in the world. Every day, the tides rise and fall over 50 feet - drastically changing the coastline so much that local maps have dotted lines showing where the water comes in. At high-tide, there are docks you can jump off, and islands in the distance only accessible by boat, but at low tide, there are areas where you can walk endlessly on the ocean floor.

The red clay sand and rising waters of the Bay of Fundy

The ocean floor, at low tide

WHERE TO STAY:

The Maple Inn- What can I say? Another super adorable, classic, country BnB.

The Lighthouse on Cape D'or - A bit farther out, you can stay in an actual lighthouse cabin right on the Bay - it's breathtaking and incredible.

CAN'T MISS EATS:

Harbour View Restaurant - This is the most iconic place in town, with a menu full of local seafood, and windows you can watch the tides rise and lower in.

THE BEST SITES:

The Fundy Geological Museum- There are endless fossils and dinosaur bones trapped in the clay soil here, and scientists have been excavating the area for years. The museum has windows into the workshops where you can see the paleontologists working on their latest projects

Wasson Bluff - The cliff and beach that is the main dig site for the museum - this is an easy walk down from the main road, and you can see the fossils and bones still in their resting place.

Joggins Cliffs - About a 40 minute drive from Parrsboro, this is a world heritage site for how many dinosaurs have been discovered her.